Mountaintop removal bill fails in TN Senate

3:57 PM,
Mar. 20, 2013

A mountaintop removal coal mining site in West Virginia

Written by

Chas Sisk
| The Tennessean

A bill that would have restricted surface mining at high elevations was killed for the year Wednesday in the Tennessee Senate.

Legislation meant to prevent new "mountaintop removal" mining projects in Tennessee failed in the Senate Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee when members declined to take up the measure. The decision snuffed out any debate on the bill, despite a plea from its sponsor to hold a hearing on the measure.

"I was hoping for at least a discussion," said state Sen. Lowe Finney, D-Jackson. "If they're not for it, that's one thing. ... I think the committee ...